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STEVENS POINT – A new professional development center aims to help train Stevens Point school staffers on technology, and local businesses are stepping up to support its creation.

The center will be located inside the Point of Discovery School, a charter school which will open in mid-July in the former Jackson Elementary School building.

Six community businesses have committed $140,000 to remodel, renovate and equip the center, according to the Stevens Point School Board, which has approved the project.

An additional $418,594 will come from the board's settlement in a statewide class action lawsuit against Microsoft, which was set aside for technology. The center is still accepting donations as well.

"Technology has been integrated in classrooms but what was lacking was training facilities for educators and we thought it was necessary to support the educators," said Dennis Peterson, executive VP of Delta Dental of Wisconsin.

Delta Dental and Skyward will be making a financial commitment of $50,000 each, while Marten Machining, Ministry St. Michael's Hospital, The Worth Co. and Worzalla Publishing Co. are giving $10,000 each.

"The idea of creating a professional development center is going to be just a great asset for the school district to really help improve the professional development of their staff, especially as it relates to their technology," said Ray Ackerlund, Skyward's vice president of marketing and product management

"We saw this as just a really great opportunity to improve the community."

The idea is to establish a center where employee groups from within the district can receive technology training.

"My hope is that the professional development center will help grow the curriculum and the technology curriculum in the school system and continue to develop students in the area," said Dave Marten, vice president of Marten Machining.

"This is just a bigger way to support the community and do our part in making sure students have talents and skills coming out of school."

In addition, a future goal is to allow community members and businesses access through an online scheduling tool.

"The goal of the time line is to first start with training district staff," said Brian Casey, director of technology at Stevens Point Area School District.

"Then once we're comfortable, set up a schedule for community members and businesses to use the center. We're looking into having technicians and integrations specialists offer classes to the community. We'll look to see how the schedule works, what staff is involved and hopefully have it open by the (2016-17) school year."

Nina N. Salazar can be reached at 715-345-2253, or on email at nsalazar@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find her on Twitter as @Ninansalazar. Reporter Sari Lesk contributed to this story.